It’s Always Fair Weather (1955)

* * * ½

An odd mixture of depressingly realistic story intermingled with upbeat show tunes. The three stars are completely lovable and you follow their story intently, especially as it is quite an original story about friendship between old and very different friends. The always impressive Gene Kelly coupled with Stanley Donen create a good film with spectacular dance routines.

The story is interesting as you follow several narratives, not only the three friends but also two female characters are shown independently of the male leads. This does not make for a confusing film, as it is handled well, however it does make for a confusing concept. We see a floundering friendship, dodgy dealings within sports and behind the scenes of a TV show. It is surprising that all of these fitted together and were even able to be concluded in the same scene.

The dance routines are impressive and innovative, for instance there was a scene which looked like an earlier version of Stomp, using dustbins. The songs are less memorable, which is a shame for a musical, but they are still jaunty enough to entertain. For these reasons I can see why the musical is not necessarily the ultimate classic it could have been; the best musicals are the ones which has songs that reverberate through your head without ever having seen the film.